CAVE
CREEK – Heading into the 2006‑07 school
year, it was hard to ask Cactus Shadows athletes
to duplicate the success of the Class of 2006.
After all, those seniors only helped the school
secure seven state championships during the
‘05‑‘06 school year.
But
history will show the Class of 2007 did all
right, too. The Falcons added five more state
titles this school year, including the biggie–the
school’s first ever championship in football.
The
Falcons’ run at football glory last fall was
the top local story as coach Chad DeGrenier
led the team from a 0‑10 record in 2004
to a 14‑0 mark in 2006. The Falcons
were only seriously challenged in a handful
of games, and they celebrated the 4A‑Division
II crown in front of a large crowd at the
University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
The
gridiron heroes weren’t the only stars on
campus this year. The boys tennis team lost
only one match all year en route to its second
straight state championship. Plus, Cactus
Shadows, cheer, stunt and dance teams each
won state championships for the second consecutive
year.
There
were plenty of near‑misses too. The
Falcons’ boys and girls golf teams each finished
in the top three in the state, the girls soccer
team advanced to the semifinals of state and
the girls basketball team made it to the Final
Four at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale for the
second straight year.
The
Falcons’ baseball team nearly defended its
state crown before falling in the semifinals,
the boys soccer team again reached the state
tournament after sharing the state title in
2006, and the girls volleyball team fought
off injuries and a coaching change to again
make life tough for opponents.
The
school now moves up a division to 4A‑I
next school year. The regions will change,
the opponents will be different, but returning
Cactus Shadows athletes and fans hope the
success will remain the same.
